Supporting fixture



June 19, 1951 w. P. HOVERDER SUPPORTING FIXTURE 7 Filed July 25, 1949 INVENTOR. Waj/ace P flame/dew Patented June 19, 1951 UNETED STATES EN T OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting fixtures of the character applicable to small articles that are to be mounted upon substantially flat surfaces, and the primary aim of the invention is to provide a supporting fixture of the suction-cup type that will embody means for augmenting the clinging property of the conventional suction-cup and insure that the article being supported will not accidentally be released from the desired operative position.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision of a supporting fixture of the suction-cup type provided with adhesive substance movable to an operative position when the suction-cup is compressed against a substantially flat surface to operate as means for affixing an article in place on said surface.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a supporting fixture of the aforementioned character and having as a part thereof a conventional suction-cup, which suction-cup has a cavity formed at the axis thereof and a capsule of frangible substance in said cavity and filled with adhesive material that will supplement the clinging action of the suction-cup when the latter lies flattened against a supporting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting fixture that has a suction-cup body and cavities formed in said body to provide a number of adhesive-carrying elements, which, when brought into the operative position, will all serve as means for assisting the normal action of the suction-cup in maintaining the same in an operative position.

Further objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specification referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of supporting fixtures made in accordance with the present invention and showing the same in place upon a shelf to be supported.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, elevational view of the concave face of a supporting fixture showing the continuous adhesive-carrying groove and a part of the cover, removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown by Fig. 3 but with the suction-cup fiattened against a supporting surface.

It has been the experience of those using suction-cups as supporting elements for various articles, to encounter objectionable release of the suction-cup when the same is applied to certain types of surfaces and, further, to experience a 2 releasing tendency on the part of the suction-cup after it has been in place for an appreciable length of time.

The main object of this invention is to supplement the clinging action of the suction-cup with properly positioned patches of adhesive that will come into operative engagement with a supporting surface when the suction-cup is flattened.

In the drawing, suction-cup I0 is of the conventional character and has a concave face l2 at one side thereof and means it at the opposite side for securing an article to be supported thereto. In the illustrated instance, shelf i6 is the article being supported by the pair of fixtures shown in Fig. 1, and each of these fixtures is formed as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The body H] has a cavity l8 at the axis thereof which extends inwardly from concave face I2. This cavity receives a capsule 20 of frangible material and a filling of adhesive 22 is in capsule 20 when the fixture is sold for use.

Thin cellophane or a light ceramic substance will produce a workable and satisfactory frangible capsule 2B and adhesive 22 may be in the form of the well known rubber cement or glue of any character capable of forming a bond between the body It! and supporting surface 24 (Fig. 4).

A second cavity in the form of a continuous groove 26 is created in body I6 and this groove circumscribes cavity 13 and is spaced inwardly from the perimeter of the suction-cup or body II], as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A filling 28 of suitable adhesive substance such as that mentioned above is Within this groove 26 and since this adhesive 28 is fiowable, a protecting sheet of material 38 is placed over the groove 26 when the fixture is manufactured and made ready for sale to the ultimate user. When the body In is flattened against a substantially planar surface 26, as shown in Fig. 4, the capsule 20 will break under pressure exerted by the person applying the fixture and release the adhesive material 22 to seek its place between the surface I2 of body 10 and the surface 24. Before applying the fixture, protecting material 38 is removed to expose the adhesive 28 and therefore, when the body I!) is in the position shown in Fig. i, a line of adherence defined by groove 26 will be established between body ID and surface 24 and the adhesive 22 originally in frangible capsule 20, will establish an area of adhesion at the axis of the suction-cup where the greatest outward pull ccurs.

The protecting covering 30 is of sheet material With an adhesive 32 on one side as shown in Fig.

2. This adhesive does not harden but allows the covering 30 to be peeled away from a place closing groove 25 to allow the adhesive 28 to function.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A supporting fixture of the character described comprising a suction-cup, having means of attachment to the article to be supported and a resilient body with a concave face; a continuous groove formed in the said body and extending inwardly from the concave face; a filling of flowable adhesive material in the cavity to augment the clinging property of the body when the same is flattened against a substantially fiat ce; and a quickly removable cover of sheet material closing the mouth of the groove to retain the flowable adhesive the groove before the fixture is prepared for use.

2. A supporting fixture of the character described comprising a suction-cup, having means of attachment to the article to be supported and a resilient body with a concave face; a cavity formed in the said body and extending inwardly from the concave face; and a capsule of frangible material having a filling of flowable adhesive in the cavity whereby upon flattening the body against a substantially flat surface, the adhesive is released to augment the clinging property of the body in holding the fixture in place.

3. A supporting fixture of the character de scribed comprising a suction-cup, having means of attachment to an article to be supported and a resilient body provided with a concave face; a continuous groove formed in the said body and extending inwardly from the concave face; a filling of flowable adhesive material in the groove to augment the clinging property of the body when the same is flattened against a substantially fiat surface; a quickly removable cover of sheet material closing the mouth of the groove to retain the flowable adhesive in the groove before the fixture is prepared for use; a cavity formed in the said body and extending inwardly from the concave face; and a capsule of frangible material having a filling of fiowable adhesive in the cavity whereby upon flattening the body against a substantially rlat surface, the last mentioned adhesive is released to augment the clinging property of the body in holding the fixture in place, said continuous groove being spaced from and circumscribing the cavity and spaced inwardly from one edge of the body.

WALLACE P. HOVERDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,652,488 Lundblad Dec. 13, 1927 1,859,893 Ritz-Woller May 24, 1932 1,885,501 Wilson Nov. 1, 1932 2,451,194 Braun Oct. 12, 1948 

